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Do not agree to help the airline
Posted by Tatyana on 11/04/2006
WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA -- On June 24th, I boarded my Virgin Atlantic flight to London (flight VS22 from IAD to LHR). They had been looking for passengers to give up their seats on an overbooked flight. After everyone had boarded, they were still calling for two volunteers. I agreed because my work meeting didn't start for 18 hours after I arrived and they were offering two free tickets anywhere Virgin Atlantic flies. I got OFF the plane, was asked to sit in the boarding area for another 15 minutes while they got my bags off and did the paperwork. Then it turned out they didn't need both of us and without consultation, I was just told to get back on the flight. I was assured that my bags were being checked back on and would be on my flight.
I arrived in London with no signs of my bag and spent three horrible days sloshing in cold, rainy London without appropriate clothing for the work meeting or the starkly different weather. (It had been sunny and warm when I left the states.)
I filed a baggage claim for delayed baggage for the trip and months later still haven't received the baggage office's promised reimbursement of GBP 100 (in U.S. Dollars equivalent) nor any correspondence explaining its delay. I had to spend nearly GBP300 to purchase clothes and shoes I could wear to my two day work meeting. Part of the reason it was so high is I would gradually get basic items of clothing to look presentable -- underwear, socks and shoes one day, a jacket the next day, then work clothes the last day. My bag arrived the evening before I returned to the States.
In addition, I emailed a complaint with Virgin Atlantic about the situation that led to my bags being taken off the plane before take-off and not restored, and haven't heard anything from the company on this matter except for receipts for my email. I was literally thrown back on like baggage without acknowledgement for my effort to help the airline deal with an oversold flight. I can't believe airlines are allowed to treat people this way. And to think I thought I was trying to help.
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Posted by DebtorBasher on 2006-11-04:
It's unfortunate that this happened to you. However, I don't think it is their usual practice. Compared to the other airlines, I think Virgin has the least complaints (I could be wrong, nothing official)...Everyone who travels knows they can not depend on the weather being the same at the place of arrival as it is at the place of departure...Especially if you're traveling overseas. Lost or misdirected luggage is a common problem in the airline industry...and a traveler has to prepare themself before they leave with a "What If..." attitude...slushing around in cold rain for three days? Why didn't you get yourself what you needed, if it was that bad, I would have went right out and bought the shoes or boots and rain gear...It's LONDON...it Rains!
Posted by Tatyana on 2006-11-04:
Virgin Atlantic baggage services said my bag would be on the next flight that was supposed to arrive later that day so I didn't want to spend unnecessary money on boots. Boots are not cheap. My clothes for London were in my bag that was taken off the plane and didn't arrive, duh! My bag was not on that flight or the next flight or the next flight... and wasn't delivered until days later. Why are you turning on me? What a weird misdirected comment. I've given Virgin Atlantic four months (two emails) to remedy the situation and there has been no follow-up.
Posted by DebtorBasher on 2006-11-04:
I understand what you're saying...however, after the luggage didn't come on all those flights, something should have told you "I better be prepared in case they don't show up at all"...I understand your main complaint is that you were willing to do them a favor by giving up your seat and they didn't have your bags on the flight they should have been...unfortunatly it isn't unusaly for things like this to happen on airlines, people who travel need to prepare themself for things like this...that's all I'm saying...Thankfully you did get your luggage back before your return home, if not that could have set you back for additional days before they caught up with you. But to complain about the weather and the fact that when you left the airport Without your luggage, that is when you should have gotten the necessary things to get you through until you did get your stuff back...yeah, it cost money, but it was obviously your choice to spend the money or get wet.
Posted by Tatyana on 2006-11-05:
respectfully, you missed my points: my complaint isn't about being wet in London. let me spell it out for you: 1/ I agreed to give up my seat, Virgin didn't stick to their end of the bargain or even make sure my bags that they took off got back on the flight (the airline has record of taking my bags off the flight when they called down and said they had a volunteer willing to give up their seat. So, I was inconvenienced after trying to help them. 2/ they haven't sent me my baggage claim reimbursement and it's been four months. I'd write a review about London if I was complaining about being wet.
Posted by Tatyana on 2006-11-05:
... also I was there for a meeting that was every day, from 8-6. Since they kept saying my luggage would be on the next flight, I didn't see the point in dropping $600 for work clothes and boots for a 2 day meeting. June 25 -- the day I arrived was a Sunday. If you've been to London, you know the stores close very early, if they're open at all on Sunday. Your comments are totally unhelpful.
Posted by DebtorBasher on 2006-11-06:
Respectfully, you missed my point...They are still an Airline...it is normal for this to happen with Airlines...frustrating to the travelers, but it happens...if you have a fool proof solution to lost luggage, please share it with them.
Posted by WB on 2007-09-17:
Virgin Atlantic totally sucks - we had such high expectations and heard a lot about them - but our first trip with them is the last. They lost my daughter's suitcase from New York to New Delhi and did not respond to our claims for 4 months. We were told to file a claim at the destination and because we did not have the receipts for everything (you carry receipts for all the baggage when traveling?) - they deducted 50% from the payout - which was half of what is on the Ticket as per the Geneva conventions to start with - basically couple of hundred dollars for a $1000 claim. They were so arrogant and unhelpful - we called EVERY day for 1 month and then gave up - they did not even give us anything in Delhi to go out and buy emergency clothes. My wife is a radio jockey with an listener base of 500,000++ in New York/New Jersey area and we are now constantly advising people to dump this airline - even if we succeed in turning 5-10 people away, it will be a solace.
Posted by dj tenn on 2008-05-21:
Yes, NEVER EVER under ANY circumstance offer to help not only Virgin but any of these foul Sky Pirates. I went thru the same nonsense on Jet Blue on a flight from Ft. Laud to JFK NY.
I offered to give up my seat having a few days left before returning to work & was told I would be compensated with a free tix on their airline. Well they turned out not to need my seat, then when I reboarded the plane , they proceeded to lose my luggage, which resulted in a 2 day nitemare of going back and forth to JFK to finally have to pick up the luggage @ my own expense. Have yet to reimbursed for "Helping" them out.
Virgin has ROTTEN customer service ESPECIALLY since their Billionaire CEO Sir Richard Branson moved his customer service and reservations to a New Delhi where people are paid 2.00 per hour, cannot speak English properly and on top of it have you on a line with a bad connection ..
I tell you , the entire corporate world is about shafting the consumer any way possible while their profit margins continue to soar & customer service continues to decline.
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Virgin America's Gotcha Game
Posted by Cranford on 08/06/2008
Re: the Virgin America "gotcha" game….
I am a vice president of a company and a seasoned "road warrior" with considerable experience flying with some of the best airlines in the world (and a few of the worst). I am also fortunate enough to be one of those "favored fliers" coveted by most airlines, as I usually purchase my first class seat/s, rather than upgrade, etc.
A fan of Virgin Atlantic for many years, I had been eager to fly the new Virgin America. In October 2007 I purchased (2) two First Class seats to fly from LA to New York for New Years. Due to unfortunate circumstances, I was unable to make the trip. As a courtesy and matter of habit, I phoned into Virgin America to notify the airline that I would not be making the trip. I was informed that an email would be sent to follow the call. To my knowledge, I never received this email, but thought nothing of it at the time.
A couple of weeks ago, I contacted Virgin America to make a new reservation for two, in First Class (considerably more expensive now). I gave the confirmation number of my original flight to use towards the new tickets, only to be told that there was NO credit on file for this former reservation. Inquiring further into this mystery… I was told that no record was found on their side that this reservation had been cancelled prior to departure. I conveyed that I had in fact done so, but still didn't understand how this was relevant. Alas, I was told further that if either I had not cancelled the reservation prior to departure (or no record was found of such) that the entire fare amount was FORFEITED!
I was told that this forfeiture information was in their "Fare Rules", and that there was nothing else that could be offered other than crediting me "1/2 of the total fare or the Guest Services agent would "get in trouble".
I must confess that I am not one to read the fine print when purchasing a full fare First Class ticket/s. No airline known to me in the USA has such an absurd policy which penalizes passengers with a 100% loss (or anything close) of the fare/money spent. It is certainly way out of the norm with other US airline policies. At most, one can usually expect a nominal change fee of some amount, and even that is usually limited to restricted economy tickets, and other very restricted fares.
I had scanned originally, and have since reread, the email confirmation I received from Virgin America and NO mention is made of this policy under "Rules and Restrictions". (I have since been able to find this policy / practice only in the "fine print" of their website.)
One can only imagine that I'm not the first to be snagged into this trap thus far. To be told that I've lost $2400.00 because no record (conveniently) was found of a reservation cancellation, that I didn't even know I was supposed to have made… (but in fact actually had in this case).
There is no question in my mind that this weighty penalty is a deceptive loophole buried in the fine print of your fare rules. One could certainly deduce that Virgin America has intentionally done so to the peril of unsuspecting customers, who must be expected to swallow it and move on. Virgin America must also further anticipate that they will not see these customers again as a result, and that this loss of repeat customers is acceptable.
I feel robbed quite frankly, and I cannot compare this experience with any other short of literally being robbed. It is certainly a story worth telling to others considering flying Virgin America.
I did direct my complaint to the Vice President per the Customer Care Department's recommendation, in writing. No response or resolution has been offered to date!
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Posted by Anonymous on 2008-08-06:
I'm sorry, I'm confused by your post and possibly am not understanding the complaint here. There was no record of a cancellation of the original flight, yet Virgin offered to credit you 1/2 the cost of your new flight? And you're upset?
Posted by Anonymous on 2008-08-07:
By your own admission you don't seem to "sweat details" perhaps you didn't pay "full fare." Ticketing can be somewhat confusing and VX is not unlike most carriers. Call and cancel or simply "no show" and you'd receive a full credit on a true full fare ticket. I'd call VX with your record locator and ask if this ticket was purchased as a coded "full fare" rather than a near full fare. Good luck.
Posted by Curly2355 on 2008-08-11:
We just experienced a similar problem with Virgin. We were told the change fee for a return flight was $200/ticket for tickets so we confirmed the change over the phone. When we got to the airport the change was there but now we had to pay an additional $800/ticket. Customer service keeps telling me that understand how difficult the experience was but "there is nothing they can do." I will never fly Virgin again and advise anyone who considers it not to do anything without written confirmation!
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Pathetic Customer Service
Posted by Kinneparikh on 06/27/2013
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS -- This was my first time taking Virgin Atlantic from Mumbai to Chicago. The flight was Ok but the entertainment system was quite outdated offering limited number of shows and movies. Also, their customer service standards are pretty low, lot of misinformation and miscommunication from their end and no one takes any accountability whatsoever. After my flight, when I landed at Chicago airport, It took me sometime at Immigration. I went at Bag Carousal but could not find my luggage. So informed Virgin Staff of the same that it took me some time at customs. Bayo- the staff, held me for 45 minutes and he told me after checking barcodes that my luggage has not arrived on Airport and it will delivered to my doorsteps in 2 days. I went home with the claim number to follow up with customer service regarding my baggage. After 10-15 times of back and forth with Virgin Staff they told me to come and pick up my luggage from the airport after two days. They gave me multiple reasons of not delivering the bags, a) I lived in city and they do not deliver luggage to place so close to airport. b) The luggage was always on Chicago Airport (but they could not locate it in first place). I later collected baggage from the airport and decided to file a formal complaint online.
I emailed a complaint with Virgin Atlantic and haven't heard anything from the company on this matter till long except for receipts for my email. I would not travel or recommend anyone to travel again with them.
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I Can't Book a Seat on a Flight!!!
Posted by Cocojm on 05/25/2012
This is the letter that I sent to Virgin Atlantic. I have removed the flight information, but my complaint is obvious.
I'm sorry to say that I am quite dissatisfied with your service and total lack of communication. I TRULY NEED to reserve my seats... Why could I book my seats for my return flight .... but I cannot book my departing flight. PLEASE LISTEN AND HELP. I need two seats together for me and my son; one MUST be an aisle seet. I have tried to call 18008215483 and 18008628621, but IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SPEAK WITH A HUMAN!! How would you feel in this situation?
I hate to threaten you, but I will put this problem on Facebook and other complaint websites if I get no reply. Also, I will make it a point not to fly Virgin Atlantic again. That would be a loss for you, seeing that I travel to London often.
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Posted by trmn8r on 2012-05-25:
Here is some Virgin Atlantic information on seating:
Note that it states that a certain *percentage* of seats are available to reserve. After they are taken, I assume you can't choose until you check in. It says to check back periodically to see if you can get a seat.
Posted by Ben There on 2012-05-25:
This happens at most airlines... When flights get really full, no more seats can be assigned. As trmn8r pointed out, you should check their website often to see if people have cancelled or changed travel plans as their seats might show up as assignable again. This happens more than you would think.
If nothing opens up, be ready to check in online as soon as possible - normally 23 hours and 59 minutes before your flight. At this point, any blocked seats tend to be released to everyone.
Worst case scenario is that you can't get a seat assignment before you get to the airport. If this is the case, the gate agent will be your new best friend. He or she might be able to ask some other travelers if they can move to accommodate you and your son... However, if you are both in middle seats, that does not always work as people don't like to move from nice aisle seats next to their own family and friends that were booked 8 months ago to a solo middle seat.
If the gate agent can't do anything, you will have to make a call to board the flight and hope people on the plane or more willing to switch... if your son is very young they might not want to sit next to him anyway. Otherwise, you need to decide if you would be willing to pay the change fees to take another flight that can accommodate your wants better.
One thing to note - you say you "need" adjoining seats and it "must" be an aisle - if there are medical reasons for this request, be prepared to share it with the airline. Nobody particularly wants a middle seat, so airlines hear plenty of excuses for why people must be moved... have real proof like a doctor's note.
Posted by clutzycook on 2012-05-25:
Odds are she needs to sit next to her son because he is a kid.
Posted by danny54 on 2012-05-26:
This may seem odd to say, but if you do end up dealing with agents at the airport, be VERY calm and polite with all of them. They control your future on the flight.
A few years ago, my partner and I were returning from Amsterdam with what I thought were confirmed seats. Turns out my was, his wasn't. We were sent to the gate to try and work it out. When we got there, the couple ahead of us were ripping the poor gate agent up one wall and down the other.
Once they went to sit down, it was our turn. We did our best to treat the agent with respect. Ended up we both got our seats as we'd originally had them. Funny thing is, we never did see the couple that gave the agent the hard time on that flight!
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The worst major airline
Posted by Asmwk53316 on 10/06/2011
I have sent a complaint litter before and stated that I had a very bad outgoing flight experience and was regretting the flight back as you can read in this previous letter which was sent to you Virgin Atlantic on 5/31/2011;
(I and my two kids flew Virgin Atlantic from lax to Amman Jordan connecting in London with BMI. The flight was on time, that's the only positive thing I can say about this flight, the entertainment, what entertainment? There was no service on the TV screen the whole flight to London, the food service was awful, and the food portions were very small. Only two food serving on the whole (11 HR.) flight, and when calling the flight attendants were very rude. In other words very poor service…I still have to fly back for the return flight. im really concerned about that flight. I will never fly or recommend Virgin Atlantic Airline to anybody!!!)
On the return flight back I called Virgin Atlantic airlines to confirm the flight 3days before the flight date. They told me ok you're confirmed. Great so far so good until I went to check in at the airport ticketing desk, where they told me that I don't have a ticket that my ticket was canceled. That's when I called my husband in California and then he called Virgin Atlantic airlines to find out what is the problem. He was told at the first call that there was a flight change, that somebody had called and changed the flight number and that in order to reissue and release the ticket he had to pay $600.00 first, he told them that neither me or my wife had called or authorized or did any change on that flight at all at anytime. They put him on hold for about 15 to 20 minutes to find out what had happened to cause this. After about 15-20 minutes they came back saying that the person that did the change was our travel agent at that time he called the travel agent while Virgin Atlantic was still on the line but he had to leave a message because it was after hours here in California. Because of the flight time and that my flight was about take off in approximately one hour his hands were tied and had to pay the $600.00 in order for me to catch my flight so my kids can get to school the flowing Monday which I told the ticketing desk and of course they did not care and did nothing to help. After he payed 600.00 they said that to give them about 5 minutes for them to process. After about 5 minutes they did not reissue the ticket my husband called Virgin again, they re-checked the ticket validation and reason for the hold or cancellation Of the ticket again and said that the credit card number was not correct and they need a different card number which he gave them another card number so that I can make my flight. After it was processed and approved and my ticket was issued he asked them again why the extra charge, after putting on hold for another 20 minutes they came back and gave him different reason for the flight number change and the reason for the extra charge, this time they said the reason is that BMI airlines had changed the flight number only and that even though virgin Atlantic charged HIS Card for the extra charge they told him you have to take it up with BMI airline…this flight was the worst airline experience I have ever encountered from departing to the amazing heartless return flight. This would be the last time I travel with or recommend Virgin Atlantic to anybody I know and I will email copy to customer relations and post it online reviews….
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Terrible Customer Service
Posted by VickyRijo on 03/01/2011
This company has the worst customer service I have ever encountered. My boss went to Australia in September of 2010 and he is a VA flying club member. He was not credited mileage for his trip and we have been trying to get this resolved for the last 3 weeks. Still no resolution. I keep getting different people every time I call and no one knows anything. We have provided the flight number, Flying Club member number, Ticket number, dates of travel and record locator and still no one at Virgin Atlantic can tell us anything. At first they tell me to call at 4pm in the afternoon so that they can get in touch with the Flying Club and then when I call again they tell me to call at 10 am so that they can get in touch with the Flying Club. And whenever I search for a direct telephone number to the Flying Club address where we sent the Federal Expressed letter in Norwalk, CT - no one knows a number!!! This is the worst Customer Service I have ever dealt with!!!
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Appalling service from Virgin Atlantic
Posted by Maryline Belle on 02/14/2011
I used Virgin Atlantic to Fly to Cuba from London in August 2010. I was struck in La Havana for nearly 3 days because of a mechanical problem with the plane. I will not go though the major inconveniences this has caused to me both personally and professionally. Virgin promised all passengers a complementary flight anywhere in the world (except on their Australia route) valid for 18 month.
It took me 5 months to receive a confirmation letter for this complementary flight. When I finally got it (after continually sending them emails and calling them), I called reservations in February 2011 to try and book a flight for June 2011 to be told "you called too late, no complementary seats are available, you should have called earlier". When I explained that I ONLY just received the confirmation letter, the lady didn't want to hear about it. She was the least helpful person that I have come across. For an airline advertising high standards of customer service and strong ethics, they have a pretty odd way to show it.
Basically, Virgin delivered false promises at the time of the incident in order to keep angry passengers quiet and avoid a considerable amount of complaints but they are now refusing to honor their offer, hiding behind lame excuses.
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Posted by dan gordon on 2011-02-14:
sue them in small claims court. They will settle. Go to your state's secretary of states office or website and see who their registered agent is in your state. File the paperwork and wait to hear from them. Its a very effective method of 'talking' with them.
Posted by Anonymous on 2011-02-14:
mishandled on the part of VS - problem with non alliance airlines and their reluctance to endorse you to other carriers. Another reason not to fly the likes of Southwest, Jetblue, AirTran. Dan's advice isn't relevant as VS is a UK based carrier on an international itinerary LON-HAV... EU has some comprehensive provisions and that's the route I'd take.
Posted by Ben There on 2011-02-14:
Keep checking with Virgin to see if seats open up. These types of tickets are similar to frequent flyer tickets - seats will often open up later.
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Avoid Virgin Atlantic if you are elderly or non-white
Posted by Ericlowe on 01/17/2011
Virgin Atlantic staff repeatedly failed to provide wheelchair to a non-white elderly gentlemen at SFO and London-Heathrow while other passengers were readily transported by wheelchair when requested. Avoid Virgin Atlantic if you are elderly and non-white. Virgin Atlantic or the company that manages the wheelchair requests for them are racists.
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Posted by spiderman2 on 2011-01-17:
Did you make arrangements for a wheelchair ahead of time? Not everything in this world can be attributed to racism and frankly complaints like this take away credibility from real instances of racism.
Posted by trmn8r on 2011-01-17:
This sounds odd. In England they are particularly alert to passengers who need assistance.
What were the specific circumstances under which this happened, at each location? Only knowing them can the cause for failure to accommodate the request be explained.
Posted by idontthinkso on 2011-01-17:
Ah.. Because the situation you witnessed/experienced INVOLVED an Elderly Non-White individual, and it wasn't resolved to your satisfaction, Racism is involved. Thank you for updating us on that rule. I wasn't aware of it's existence.
Could you inform me whether this was enacted by a UN agreement, or is is a US-only law?
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I used to rate Virgin Atlantic quite highly but no more!
Posted by Wycombe on 11/30/2010
My elderly parents visited me from the UK and I tried to use the online check in to ensure they got seats together for their overnight return flight. The system does not allow you to check-in more than 24 hours ahead of the flight departure but as soon as the clock passed the -24 hour mark I logged on but got an error message saying the system was unavailable. After several more attempts, I called by phone and after 20 minutes or more on hold was told there was a problem with the sysstem and to try again later. I tried again and again over the following 2½ hours without success so I called again but gave up after 30 or more minutes on hold. I hung up and called again for another 35 minutes on hold before someone assured me they could help and transferred me back into the menu system where I managed to navigate my way to a hang up. Calling back it only took 20 minutes to get an answer out of New Delhi or wherever. The eastern gentlemen informed me that all online seats were already allocated so the only remedy would be to check in 3 hours ahead of the flight instead on 1½ hours. I asked how the online check in seats could be taken if the system had been down. Not surprisingly, he couldn't provide an answer.
Unfortunately, instead of asking to speak to a supervisor, I ended the phone call (politely). It was then I decided that I was unsatisfied enough that I wanted to escalate the problem - two calls and 1¾ hours later, I finally talked to someone who refused to put me through to a supervisor but couldn't do anything about the situation except notify the airport departure desk about the issue - to what end remains to be seen.
All that money and they can't provide a consistent online check in system or reasonable customer service!
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Posted by Ben There on 2010-11-30:
I have always been able to pre-assign seats on Virgin well in advance by using my confirmation code on their website. Next time I suggest you do this as soon as you buy your tickets so you don't have to wait to see what is left at check in. There is always a chance if you wait there might not be any seats left together, regardless of site issues.
Posted by warddw1526 on 2010-12-01:
Were they able to get seats together for the flight home?
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Robbed of $600 by Virgin Atlantic
Posted by Braniff on 09/25/2010
Robbed of $600 by Virgin Atlantic
This the tale of how Virgin Atlantic decided to make an extra $600 off of us when its staff knew we had no other option. Don't risk your trip on this airline. This can easily happen to you.
We were returning to the U.S. after a four-day visit to London. We were delayed leaving because I had been feeling ill that day. We arrived rushing as best we could, and were even held up by Virgin staff trying to sell a seat upgrade.
By the time we arrived at the baggage check-in, it was 3:05 P.M. and our flight was leaving at 4 P.M. The agent took a few moments to review our documents, then asked someone else whether we could still put our bags on the flight. That person said no. Given that there were other passengers who were already at the check-in desk when we arrived who still were loading their bags, I know it was merely a Virgin policy to not allow us to load the bags and not any other restriction from the airport.
What was the next and only option? They charged us almost $600 more to take seats on a flight four hours later that was 70% empty. It sent an unmistakable signal: Virgin enjoys sticking it to customers who had some bad fortune.
Again, don't risk a flight on this airline. It's like the worst of the credit card companies or other shysters in the market - the second they can find a reason and know you have no alternative, they'll unjustly suck as much money out of you as they can.
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Posted by Ben There on 2010-09-25:
Airports themselves do not have restrictions on when bags can be checked before a flight, but bags headed to certain destinations like the USA must endure extra security screening so they must be checked in earlier. The likelihood of your bag being sent for the additional screening and then making it out to the plane are very slim 45-50 minutes before departure - at that point the flight is already boarding, and bags have to be matched to passengers for international flights to the USA. The choices are kicking you off the flight to fly later with your bags, or delaying 300 other people if your bags are not processed quickly.
It would have been great customer service if Virgin would have waived the change fees of your ticket, but some might say if they did that for you, they would have to do it for everyone. If there were no penalties for showing up late for a flight, probably many more people would risk it. Seriously, who wants to get to an airport 3 hours before a flight if you can do it 50 minutes before a flight.
Posted by rockfishing on 2010-09-25:
I've always have shown up on time and have never had a problem. I'm sure everyone would love to show up late with no penalty.
Posted by James_236 on 2010-09-25:
It seems you were only late by 5 minutes, and if it was you the agent was trying to sell an upgrade and that made you late, you have a cause of action against Virgin to recover the charges. Write them a letter setting out your intended claim and then it is open to you to file an action in small claims court in your State. To make it more interesting claim not only a reimbursement of your $600 but also damages for the four hours delay. I would ask the Judge for a minimum of $500 per person for the delay. You don't need a lawyer for a small claims court case.
Posted by PepperElf on 2010-09-25:
rock ... exactly. i have usually gotten to the airport 2-3 hours early.. once i got to the airport before it was open even... tho the lobby was open at least so i could wait inside.
Posted by Ben There on 2010-09-25:
Can you sue a British company about an instance that happened in London in a US Small Claims court? Besides, all the airline has to say is that it takes a couple seconds to ask if you want an upgrade (I have heard it many times)... Its also well known and documented that you are supposed to check in early for flights to the USA. If the judge finds against the OP, couldn't he or she be responsible for Virgins costs?
Posted by Anonymous on 2010-09-25:
Knowingly making someone sit at the airport for four hours when they are ill, is pretty insensitive. Then adding $600 on top of that--whew. I'll bet the luggage would have easily gotten on the flight in less than 1/2 an hour, especially since they were also just putting other peoples luggage on the belt. I have been amazed at how some of my transferred luggage has made connection flights.
Alternatively, the airline could have offered to send the luggage on the next flight (since it was nearly empty) and let the passengers leave on their scheduled flight. The passengers could then pick it up at the airport or the airline could have had it delivered for a fee. No harm, no foul.
Sometimes rules can and are broken depending on the agent. I think they could have used a little more compassion in this instance. Everything is not always black and white. I've even been on flights where they hold the doors open for someone arriving late. Rules are broken every day for extenuating circumstances. I guess it just depends on the airline and the agents/supervisors working at the time.
Posted by Ben There on 2010-09-25:
singsing, actually bags have to travel with the passenger on international flights - sure sometimes bags get lost and this does not happen, but it is illegal for an airline to intentionally separate bags and passengers when the flight is from or to the USA. Rules can and are broken, but much less often when the US Department of Homeland Security is the enforcer...
Also, just because other peoples bags were going on the belt does not mean they were for this flight... Virgin is hubbed at Heathrow, so other peoples bags could have been going to other cities.
Posted by Anonymous on 2010-09-25:
My bags have come without me (because they were not put on the flight), so I guess that's what I was thinking, Ben. I took the OP to mean the other's were boarding their flight too, but, it is possible they were boarding flights to other destinations, as you said.
Using an example. I know that the aircraft doors are supposed to close within a certain amount of time before a flight (15-20 minutes--not sure), but I have seen them left open way beyond that to let latecomers on, so I know they don't always follow Homeland Security rules. This has happened in the US and internationally. I think they still need to use common sense sometimes too, and I've seen the rules broken many times for different circumstances. I think illness would be a good example.
Posted by Helpful on 2010-09-26:
It's unfortunate that they couldn't or wouldn't accommodate you. I'd like to hear their side of the story though.
Posted by James_236 on 2010-09-26:
Article 33 of the Montreal Convention provides a number of alternative jurisdictions where the passenger may bring his claim and one is the place of destination, so he can surely file in small claims court in his State. Virgin is a British company but if they want to fly in and out of the United States they have to be subject to the juridsiction of US courts even for matters that take place in London if the passenger complains that those matters caused him to be delayed on a flight into the US. A losing Plaintiff in small claims may be required to pay a nominal sum for court costs to a successful defendant, but this is not for the Attorney's fees. It is a very small sum, perhaps under $100. Some jurisdictions don't allow Attorneys and those that do, do not reimburse your Attorneys fees if successful. The OP seems to think that the agent who tried to sell the upgrade kept them back so this is all he has to tell the court. The airline cannot counter with it only takes a few seconds unless they brought to the court the actual agent who tried to sell the upgrade who could give evidence that it took only a few seconds in this case. It cannot be worth the while for Virgin to fly and put up lawyers and witnesses for a small claims case and Virgin will hardly defend this case. On the day of the case the OP will simply set out in his own words what happened and the Judge will make a decision. Although Virgin is not one of main offenders, it is time passengers begin bringing airlines to justice.
Posted by jktshff1 on 2010-09-26:
james, someone will correct me, but I believe 2hrs ahead is recommended for international flights.
Posted by James_236 on 2010-09-26:
Someone may correct me too, but I think the 2 hours is the "recommended" arrival time at the airport, but the cutoff for check-in of bags is one hour, but the OP's story is that the agent looked at their documents then asked someone else if their bags could still get on the flight, bearing out that they were just minutes out of time and even the agent thought they might have made it.
Posted by Ben There on 2010-09-26:
There are plenty of time where I did not feel like getting to the airport at the proper time because I was really tired, had a broken arm, hungover, getting lucky, busy with work, not feeling well, upset because I was at a funeral, eating Christmas dinner with family, etc... There are also times when I paid money to change my flight because I knew I was not going to make the flight or I was sick and didn't want to share germs with other passengers.
However, if I got to an airport right at the cut off time and missed the minimum check in time I would never try to blame someone who was just doing his or her job of upselling a seat, or whatever few seconds diversion I might encounter... The reason I am late for the flight is all on me because I didn't allow enough time to get to the airport.
There is always the chance that something will go wrong the tube or taxi might be delayed, you forget something and have to turn around, you wake up late, but that is life, NOT A COURT CASE! I wish more people would accept responsibility for their own actions instead of suing.
Posted by Anonymous on 2010-09-26:
Ben There, I liked your list of reasons (1st paragraph). I had to laugh. It is true. I've had many of the same scenarios and have also changed my flights at cost just because I didn't feel like going yet--for whatever reason.
I still feel sympathetic to anyone who is traveling and ill and it would have been nice if things had been worked out differently by the employees since it was a close call. The $600 and 4 hour wait was the icing on the cake.
Posted by Ben There on 2010-09-26:
Yeah, I feel sorry too, but I can see both sides of the story. Risk a delay and penalize the 300 people who checked in on time, or deny boarding and penalize the person who was late.
Because Heathrow is so busy and is slot controlled, if you take a delay waiting for baggage it might mean an hour of extra taxiing if you lose your spot in line for take off. I had this happen to me in Newark - some bags were loaded, but the corresponding passengers never got on the plane. It took 30 minutes to find the bags in the hold, but we were hours late taking off because we got in the back of the line during Europe rush hour.
Posted by PepperElf on 2010-09-26:
the case one would have to prove is whether or not the 5 minutes - if it was even that long - caused this to happen.
but in order to prove that you'd also have to prove that the upsale would have caused this to happen if if the OP had been at the airport earlier.
or rather.. isn't it always the case? when you're running late everyone in front of you seems to move too slowly. or something happens that makes you even later? is it the fault of the people ahead of you?
yes going anywhere while sick feels bad, but sometimes you have to do it. and yes i've traveled while sick.. once i pretty much traveled oh... just a few hours after getting out of the hospital. people were nice to me at least. .. i left the hospital tags on until i got home.
Posted by Anonymous on 2010-09-26:
Ben, that does sound like a hellish place to fly out of. Haven't been there in years.
When I fly out of Singapore, the airport is so organized that I've started arriving 1 1/2 hours before flight time. I still have an hour or more after check-in. I wish all airports ran so smoothly.
Posted by Ben There on 2010-09-26:
Singapore has a great airport, swimming pool and all. Newark and Heathrow are the anti-Changi.
I also like the new Bangkok airport. For a city that is so chaotic, the airport experience is really nice.
Posted by Anonymous on 2010-09-26:
Hong Kong's airport is pretty nice too. Haven't flown into Bangkok yet, but at least I know the airport will be decent :) My son hates JFK, Laguardia and Newark too.
I've never seen the swimming pool at Changi--where is it? I'm usually in a daze when I get there--either coming in after all those hours on a plane or getting there at the crack of dawn when I'm half asleep. No time for sight seeing, lol.
Posted by Ben There on 2010-09-26:
The pool is in Terminal 1. There is a fee to use it unless you are staying at that airport hotel. Hong Kong is nice - the Cathay Pacific Lounges are amazing.
Posted by Anonymous on 2010-09-26:
Oh, okay, Ben. Interesting and I'll be checking that pool out--while I'm waiting for my flight in a couple of weeks. Have only been to Japan Airlines lounge in HK. It was nice too.
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An IQ Score of 105 is Average Intelligence
Wechsler Intelligence Scale classifies an IQ Score of 105 as average intelligence which is also called normal intelligence. Moreover, If you decide you wish to read this entire page about an IQ of 105, you will learn four things.
- How to raise your IQ score
- IQ and standard deviation
- IQ and occupation
- IQ Table and Percentiles for an IQ Score of 105
If you or your child previously scored 105 on an IQ test, congratulations, you have average intelligence. If an IQ score of 105 seems appropriate then there is no cause for alarm. However, if an IQ score of 105 seems a bit low, there are several reasons why you or your child has an IQ score of 105. For example, it is possible that you or your child just flat-out did poorly on the test. And the main reasons why people score poorly on tests is due to test anxiety or not being prepared or just simply being distracted.
How to raise your IQ score
To combat test anxiety which can lower your IQ score, try relaxing before you attempt our IQ test. Do some deep breathing excercises and meditate for a few minutes prior to testing. Be prepared before taking our IQ test and you can do that by having a pen and paper on hand so you can do calculations on paper that you can not perform in your head. To combat distraction, set aside 45 minutes which you can devote to taking the test and make sure your cell phone is turned off and you are in a quiet room in you house or apartment. If there is anyone else in your home, advise them that you will be taking an IQ test and ask them not to disturb you while you take our IQ test.
Don't feel bad if you, or your child scored 105 on an IQ test. An IQ of 105 is not set in stone. Moreover, it is possible that you or your child can raise your IQ score of 105 to as high as an IQ score of 120.
How can I raise my IQ score from 105 to 120?
It's simple, really. First of all, take our ISIQ Children's IQ Test which is just as accurate as the Wechsler IQ tests for children. Secondly, take our IQ test when you are fully rested and set aside 45 minutes which you can fully devote yourself to taking the exam. If you are an adult, you may take the Adult IQ Test.
IQ scores can fluctuate from 10-15 points which means an IQ of 105 can be raised as high as an IQ of 120 and likewise, an IQ score of 105 means that you also have the potential to score as low as 95 or even lower.
Why the difference in fluctuation?
The fluctuation of 10-15 IQ points is called "standard deviation". Every IQ test has a standard deviation factored in to every test and that deviation is usually 10-15 IQ points.
IQ and standard deviation
In statistics and probability theory, the standard deviation shows how much variation or dispersion from the average (mean, also called expected value) exists. A low standard deviation indicates that the data points tend to be very close to the mean; a high standard deviation indicates that the data points are spread out over a large range of values.
When current IQ tests are developed, the median raw score of the norming sample is defined as IQ 100 and scores each standard deviation up or down are defined as 15 IQ points greater or less, although this was not always so historically. By this definition, approximately 100 percent of the population scores an IQ between 70 and 130, which is within two standard deviations of the median.
IQ and Occupation
People who work in the following occupations typically have an average IQ of 105. However, there are people who have an IQ higher than 105 that are employed in the types of careers listed below but do so only until a better career opportunity presents itself.
- Bartender
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- Sailor - United States Navy
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- Soldier - United States Marines
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IQ Table and Percentiles for an IQ Score of 105
The table below demonstrates a cross reference of your IQ score. For example, an IQ score of 105 received by taking the Stanford-Binet can be cross referenced to measure the same score in the Cattell Intelligence Test and the Wechsler Intelligence Tests. Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores can also be converted from an IQ score of 105. And finally, the IQ table gives you the rarity and percentile of your IQ scoreof 105 and it also demonstrates how your IQ score ranks against the general population.
Other web pages that are related to your IQ score are Online IQ Calculator and How to Calculate SAT Scores.
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Popular Pages
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Gasoline prices have experienced an uptick recently and will continue to edge up slightly as summer approaches.
This post comes from Ellen Chang at partner site MainStreet.
Gasoline prices have experienced an uptick recently but will continue to edge up slightly as summer approaches, industry experts said.
Prices at gas pumps across the country are averaging $3.60 a gallon as temperatures rose slightly in some regions.
Gasbuddy.com found that gas reached $3.60 a gallon in many states. Marked exceptions on the low-end were Montana, where gasoline prices were $3.27 a gallon, and Texas, where gas was $3.47 a gallon. By contrast, California had gas as high as $4.17 in California, and Hawaii hit $4.28 a gallon.
Regular gasoline retail prices will continue to stay within this range and is projected to reach an average of $3.57 per gallon overall during the period of April through September, the Energy Information Administration said. The annual average regular gasoline retail price was $3.58 per gallon in 2013.
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Remember Murphy's Law? Make your finances rock solid with these 10 financial products.
This post comes from Maryalene LaPonsie at partner site Money Talks News.
Being money smart is about more than having a budget and eliminating dumb purchases. It means creating a financial foundation that will carry you and your family comfortably through whatever life throws your way.
To create that foundation and find lasting financial security, you need to own these 10 products. (Hint: You're about to hear a lot about insurance.)
1. Checking account
Let's start with the basics. You need to have a centralized place to manage and monitor your money. After all, it's hard to have a balanced budget if you have only a hazy idea of where your money is going.
Prepaid cards are an increasingly popular option, but they can come saddled with lots of fees. Plus, disclosures for these cards can be spotty, making it hard to know exactly how much your card is costing you.
Instead, look for a free checking account. Many institutions have scaled back their offerings, but there are still ways to get free checking from a bank or credit union.
Social Security has stopped trying to settle debts that are more than 10 years old by seizing tax refunds.
This post comes from Krystal Steinmetz at partner site Money Talks News.
The Social Security Administration is backing off the controversial practice of seizing tax refunds to collect on decades-old debt.
Acting Social Security commissioner Carolyn Colvin issued the following statement Monday:
I have directed an immediate halt to further referrals under the Treasury Offset Program to recover debts owed to the agency that are 10 years old and older pending a thorough review of our responsibility and discretion under the current law.
Colvin added, "If any Social Security or Supplemental Security Income beneficiary believes they have been incorrectly assessed with an overpayment under this program, I encourage them to request an explanation or seek options to resolve the overpayment."
It's a big deal, reports The Washington Post, which broke the story about the program's irregularities.
Eating healthy usually costs more, so some insurers are mailing out coupons to help out.
This post comes from Kelli B. Grant at partner site CNBC.
The Sunday paper isn't the only game in town when it comes to printed grocery coupons: Some health insurers are sending discount mailers to consumers as an incentive to eat healthier.
By their measures, at least, there's some evidence that it's working. Among recipients of such mailings, purchases of healthy items (per USDA guidelines) grew 4.5 percent in 2012 to 43 percent of grocery spending, according to a white paper from Linkwell Health.
New York java junkies can use an app's prepaid plan to quaff as much coffee as they want, for a monthly rate.
This post comes from Caroline Winter at partner site Bloomberg BusinessWeek.
New York caffeine junkies, look alive: A new app called CUPS allows subscribers to pay $45 per month for unlimited coffee from almost 40 independent coffee shops around the city.
Designed by a small team from Israel, the app is intended as an alternative to the smartphone loyalty cards offered by the likes of Starbucks. "It's a similar service," says Gilad Rotem, a co-founder of the startup, which is also called CUPS. "We're offering a mobile app, prepaid plan, but it's for independent, higher-quality coffee."
New Yorkers will pay $45 a month for brewed, drip, pour-over, or filtered coffee (or tea).
Latte drinkers will pay more: The unlimited espresso subscription costs $85 a month. Rotem says the prices are equivalent to about 22 cups, or roughly one java beverage per workday per month. On average, Americans consume 1.7 cups of coffee a day, according to Studylogic, which means a CUPS subscription may not be a bad deal. For coffee drinkers with a lower caffeine tolerance, CUPS also offers prepaid package deals for 5, 10, or 20 drinks per month.
Bad news: Your teen got into a jam with the law. Will bailing him out of jail mean bad news for your finances, too?
It's spring, and that means spring break, graduation season and perhaps a bit of reckless behavior parents hadn't expected. If you get a 2 a.m. phone call -- the good news that your kid is not in the hospital, the bad news that he needs bail money -- what's a sleepy, startled parent to do?
If the crime is serious, you may have to wait for a judge to set bail at a hearing. For less serious infractions, there are standard amounts of bail, depending on the charge. Sometimes, a suspect will be released on his or her own recognizance. That will cost you nothing other than the rest of the night lost to picking up your child and worrying about what's next.
Other times, the bail could be relatively low, say, $10,000 or $25,000. That's still a lot of money. But if you want to and you are able, you can pay the full amount and it will be refunded when your child appears in court as scheduled.
If you trust the website, can you trust the ads you see on it?
This post comes from Stacy Johnson at partner site Money Talks News.
Today I'm going to once again address a concern I've talked about before — namely, the advertising you see on websites, television, newspapers and every form of mass communication that accepts it.
To get started, here are two recent reader comments. I've gotten many similar ones over the years.
You run articles warning us about rip-offs and then you post one on your website. … Explain why you allow this scam on your website. Thank you. -- David
This one is about a different company, but the theme is the same.
I just want you to know that a company you sponsor on your website for cost-saving purposes is not reputable. I have reported (them) to Discover Card fraud services, the New York State BBB and Utah BBB. I am also unsubscribing from your newsletter.
I thought you vetted your affiliations better than that. It's a shame since people rely on you to save money and not get scammed. I hope you do a better job vetting in the future. -- Joe
These emails are painful. I've spent decades building credibility as a journalist. Without it, I'm out of business. So when I read things like "Explain why you allow this scam on your website" and "I thought you vetted your affiliations better than that," it really makes me cringe.
Here's the deal, guys: We can't vet the advertisers on our website because we rarely know who they are. To understand why, here's a quick lesson in how online advertising works.
If you sue your bank, you may be required to pay the bank's legal fees -- even if you win.
This post comes from Krystal Steinmetz at partner site Money Talks News.
Looking to settle a dispute with your bank? Your options are likely limited.
Chances are your bank has a so-called mandatory binding arbitration agreement in its checking contract -- the voluminous, 40-plus-page document that you signed and probably didn't read. (You're not alone. Ninety percent of consumers don't read all of it, according to MarketWatch.)
A recent study by the Pew Charitable Trusts found that 70 percent of banks, up from 58 percent in 2013, have verbiage in their contracts that prevents customers from suing the bank on their own or as part of a class-action lawsuit.
As if that's not bad enough, some banks require that consumers who bring suit against the bank will have to pay the bank's expenses, no matter who wins the case, MarketWatch said.
You read that correctly: If you take your bank to court to settle a claim and you win, you may have to pay your bank's legal expenses. The "loss, costs and expenses" clause is included in the fine print of about 1 in 4 banks' checking account contracts.
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Tying the knot doesn't mean your credit will follow suit. Take a look at these common credit myths about marriage.
- Best rates on savings
Find the highest rates on savings accounts, CDs and money market accounts.
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You are quite welcome... I hope that Telluride's government will stand strong and not be intimidated by people who for some reason don't see that we need to hold the criminals in the White House accountable to protect our Constitution. I salute your town's courage for speaking the truth.
– Mark Reback
I am shocked that the town council found it in their power to make a decision for an entire town based on 1 percent (100 signatures) of the residents.
The town council should have taken the high road and let the people vote. Instead, they have thrown themselves into the same dirty pit as this administration sometimes plays in.
I told my family that if this ordinance passes, I will stop coming to Telluride, sell our home in town and find somewhere that is more tolerant.- It is a painful but important lesson for my family, but not as important as it is for Telluride.
– Steven Rosenthal
Folks, don't rescind your impeachment resolution! It is the right - actually, the obligation - of citizens to use local government to address the impeachment of the President and Vice President. Tyranny is what is happening and if you think local affairs take precedence, you'll find yourselves overtaken as the Constitution is shredded by the "unitary executive". You could be proud of truly doing the right thing in pushing for impeachment.
– Mary Wollitz-Dooley
I agree Bush and Cheney should be impeached, however it has no business coming up as a vote in Telluride! What did it accomplish? How many people have you lost for business in the future? I think you have enough local issues to deal with without bringing the town in to the fray of national divisive politics. You could have all easily voted no, not that you didn't agree with the idea, but to be leaders and say we are not voting on this issue as it means nothing. You have tarnished the image of Telluride!
– Bill Dumont
"I want to thank the good people at the Telluride Daily Planet for web-publishing the article titled: 'Town council: impeach Bush,' written by Reilly Capps, published today, Tuesday, July 17, 2007.
I had been in the tedious process of planning another large family reunion/vacation at Telluride. And that article has certainly saved me much waste of time, effort and likely, some misspent money.
After reading the article and learning that such a rabid, and vociferous lunatic extremist fringe group has (again) come to dominate at the Telluride City hall, I've decided to refocus my efforts.
Now, I will plan our family reunion/vacation at Park City, Utah. And pass the word to many friends, family and others on this issue, as well.
Thanks and best regards …
– Sammy Sanchez, Dallas, Tex.
Regarding the notion, or was it a motion, to impeach both the President and Vice-President, the entire community should be absolutely ashamed of itself. The Town of Telluride is a very good place for the likes of your kind. For that matter, I suggest the Town of Telluride advertise for the rest of the liberal-minded yellow cowards in the United States to move there and then lock the gates so no one can ever leave again. It would certainly improve the rest of the nation. The only reason I can think of is high-altitude oxygen deprivation has removed any sense of logic and reasoning from your minds. Certainly not an act of treason, IS IT?
– Jack Ridgeway
I would just like to send a message of support for your town's recent vote to support a resolution to impeach Bush & Cheney. I hear you are getting some complaints from clueless people who still support the liars in chief, but don't worry, most of America supports your decision (recent polls show over 50% support for impeaching Cheney) and I for one will continue to support your beautiful town!
– Mark Reback
What did your 'impeachment' vote accomplish?
– Judy Bankier
Concerning Telluride: impeach bush...."oh look Ma…we made the news!!!...City Council meetings in Telluride apparently consist of everyone sitting around a campfire passing around a bong."
– K. Morgan
Thank you for taking the position you did on impeachment. It was the correct thing to do. I respect that a great deal.
– Tom Bleuer, Oak Creek Trustee
Then next time I have a bad case of diarrhea, I will try to visit your town and make a deposit. I am ashamed your town is part of the USA.
– Richard Hendrell
I admire small town councils that create a voice in America. Specifically, the town of Carbondale, Co., rejected federal mandates to monitor public library activity as unconstitutional.
On impeaching the President of the United States: The oath of office includes "protect the people of the United States from enemies both foreign and domestic" along with protection of the Constitution of the United States. President Bush was derelict in his duty to protect us when he was not diligent to protect New York City's World Trade Center. There has been very little talk about this. His father was a CIA director, the World Trade Center was attacked on President Clinton's watch, and there was suspicious evidence in the intelligence community brought to the attention of high ranking executive branch personnel prior to September 2001.
Former President Clinton was passionate about the 911 attack in the media approximately a year ago directed toward Condi Rice. Her response was vague in relation to the historical context of national security.
When you draft your statement for a vote, I hope you include "gross negligence of citizen protective responsibilities", "violated his oath of office" or language to that effect.
I am extremely disgusted how 911 has changed the world. It could have been prevented.
Sincerely exercising my freedom to speak …
– Dave Dreith, Grand Junction
I grew up near Durango. I always check out the Durango Herald online to see what news there is of "home." I now live in the wonderful Northwest Blue State of Washington and I was absolutely thrilled beyond belief to see the Herald note that your town had passed a resolution to impeach Bush/Cheney. Oh, and the message, "Your civil liberties are safe in Telluride" blew me away. Thank you for taking a stand, but more, thank you for taking a principled stand, thank you for still having the ethics, morals and guts to do the right thing and thank you, on behalf of every decent human being on the planet. Sometimes it's the little things that start the ball rolling; didn't I hear something about a butterfly flapping its wings . . . . ?
Thank you so much.
– Mark and Jean Bolton, Kent, Wash.


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Overseas Investing at Home: Screening for Reasonably Priced ADRs
by John Bajkowski
Portfolio diversification among different kinds of assets, industries, and securities is a basic principle of sound investing. One tactic to ensure that you are investing in different kinds of securities is to add some degree of exposure abroad—invest internationally.
Individual investors can easily access the foreign markets via international mutual funds. Direct investment in foreign-traded stocks is difficult and costly for the individual investor. However, if you want to invest in individual stocks, an excellent route overseas is to purchase shares of international companies in the form of American depositary receipts (ADRs). A depositary receipt is a negotiable certificate that is issued by a U.S. bank and represents shares of a non-U.S. publicly traded company. They are priced in U.S. dollars and owners avoid many costs associated with direct foreign investment, such as international settlement, global custody, foreign brokerage, currency conversions and multi-currency accounting. Dividends are also paid out in U.S. dollars.
A screen seeking reasonably priced ADRs is built into Stock Investor Pro, AAIIs fundamental stock screening program and research database. The simple screen looks for companies trading with a low PEG ratio (price-earnings ratio divided by earnings per share growth) and exhibiting strong recent price momentum. The screening criteria used in the program are detailed below.
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Sunday, October 28, 2007
Your worst nightmare
1. Sports physicals. There is such as a thing as too many.
2. Sick kids. That's Sick with a capital S.
I hated setting foot in the PICU during training. Every story was worse than the one before. It troubled me deep down in my being to see kids on vents, kid's broken bodies after trauma, kids whose lives were forever altered before they had a chance to grow up.
During my floor months, I had an uncommonly high number for heme-onc kids, just by chance. They were all great kids, and dealt with their lot in amazing ways.
But their parents. To see them just killed me. There is a pain in the eyes of a parent who has faced the spectre of their own child's death that eats at you just to see.
And now I'm one of them.
My dear friends keep telling me if I need anything, just to talk, to call at all hours of the night. Some of them I've taken up on that. But I've become every parent's worst nightmare, and I can hear the pain and fear in their voices even as they try to comfort me. This road is so painful to walk that it hurts people to even think about someone else walking it.
10 comments:
- rlbates said...
Try to treat it as a marathon and take one step (day) at a time. Don't think of the entire "26.1 miles" of this journey of yours and your family. Step, breathe, step,.....
Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
- October 28, 2007 at 9:20 AM
- Rob said...
I chose pediatrics and do not feel that parents are my worst nightmare - even parents during times like yours. You go into pediatrics because somehow you feel you can help people in this circumstance. It is an honor to be someone who can help a parent during their worst nightmare. I would far rather have a parent crying on my shoulder than being alone in their grief. Please don't feel that the offers to help are made just to be polite. They are genuine and sincere. They are really an offer to stand with you during your hard time.
- October 28, 2007 at 10:59 AM
- Emily said...
As a not-yet parent, I can't even imagine what you are going through, but as a future physician, I'm trying hard. I am keeping Henry and you and the rest of your family in my thoughts.
- October 28, 2007 at 11:14 AM
- The Country Doctor said...
In the universe's Bank of Listening I'm sure you've build up many points from the pain and suffering you've unconditionally listened to from your patients. Now is the time to draw upon that account guilt free. Continue to talk through the discomfort. Remember, those who you talk to are still figuring things out too. They'll get better at it.
- October 29, 2007 at 7:33 AM
- ten out of ten said...
It's a strange relationship we have, I think of you as a kindred spirit and friend even though we have never met.
My wife and I continue to hold you in our thoughts and keep you in our prayers.
And I doubt very seriously that you are every parent's worst nightmare, I'm sure they take great satisfaction in comforting you, knowing you would do the same for them, while everyone is reminded, as you said, that life is fragile, but love is not.
Meanwhile, everything I blog about now seems really ridiculous and petty :-)
- October 29, 2007 at 11:24 AM
Dave-speak only seems appropriate given your affinity to his music. To feel the essence of this song, you have to hear the depth of Dave's voice. But, I know the fear in your world is intense and I hope you see a "light"...the hope exists.
"The Maker" written by Lanois Daniel and performed by DMB
Oh, deep water
Black, and cold like the night
I stand with arms wide open
I've run a twisted mile
I'm a stranger in the eyes of the maker
I could not see
for fog in my eyes
I could not feel
for the fear in my life
From across the great divide
In the distance I saw a light…
The song ends with... "Oh river rise from your sleep."
- "When you cry I feel your tears running down my face
Sister, sister, you keep me"
- October 29, 2007 at 1:02 PM
- Leigh said...
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Please remember that those around you are sincere with their offers of support.
- October 29, 2007 at 3:40 PM
You're not a worst nightmare, you're walking in one. You continue to be in our prayers.
- October 29, 2007 at 9:05 PM
Thinking of you and your family. I know you will find the strongest in your support group who will show care and compassion for you always. I've seen it happen.
- October 30, 2007 at 8:29 AM
- Chrysalis Angel said...
I will continue to keep you all in my prayers.
- November 12, 2007 at 5:55 PM


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UT Tyler College of Business and Technology
Message From the Dean
Welcome to the College of Business and Technology (CBT).
We look forward to serving you and seeing you become part of our college.
Jerry W. Gilley
Interim Dean, Chair and Professor of Department of Human Resource Development and Technology


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3M™ Fastbond™ Foam Adhesive 100NF Neutral is a water dispersed neoprene contact adhesive.. Bonds many porous substrates to porous or non-porous substrates with minimal dry time. It is fast tacking to hold seams and curves within 15 seconds and foam-tearing strength after completely set.
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Steven Gaffney explains how to Create an Organizational Culture of Appreciation that Impacts the Bottom Line » More
How to let go of the toxic influences in your life
How much garbage are you holding on to? Steve Gaffney joins Jim Blasingame to encourage you to get rid of the emotional garbage you're harboring for someone or something else, and focus on things you can do something about.
Category: Entrepreneurship, Work-Life, Balance
More interviews with Steven Gaffney »See all
How to show your appreciation to your team members. Steven Gaffney joins Jim Blasingame to talk about why appreciation shown to employees should have the added qualify of being specific and happening often.
What is your experience with the power of appreciation? Steven Gaffney joins Jim Blasingame to reveal how employee engagement can be fostered with the application of appreciation, especially when it's delivered immediately.
Three steps that can restore trust. Steven Gaffney joins Jim Blasingame to reveal specific steps you can take when trust is broken, including acknowledgement and consequences.
What causes someone to fail the trust test? Steven Gaffney joins Jim Blasingame to reveal what would cause someone to break their trust with you and help you establish an environment where they feel safe to tell the truth.
What drives you to do what you do? Steve Gaffney joins Jim Blasingame to reveal that money and stuff and not the prime drivers of our motivation, but rather the desire for growth, freedom and accomplishment.


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This lexicon represents the first electronic pronunciation dictionary of Egyptian Colloquial Arabic (ECA), the spoken variety of Arabic found in Egypt. The dialect of ECA that this dictionary represents is Cairene Arabic.
The lexicon contains 51,202 entries, drawn from 140 CALLHOME telephone conversations among native speakers of Colloquial Egyptian Arabic, collected and published by the LDC as follows: CALLHOME Egyptian Arabic Speech LDC97S45, CALLHOME Egyptian Arabic Transcripts LDC97T19, CALLHOME Egyptian Arabic Speech Supplement LDC200237 and CALLHOME Egyptian Arabic Transcripts Supplement LDC2002T38. The lexicon also contains entries derived manually from the Badawi & Hines dictionary of Colloquial Egyptian Arabic.
The lexical entries are written one to a line with tab-separated fields, including orthographic representation in both the LDC romanization as well as Arabic script, morphological, phonological, stress, source, and frequency information for each word.
Here is a sample page.
Relative to earlier versions of the Arabic Pronouncing Lexicon, this release provides not only a significant increase in the number of entries, but also a significant effort to improve the quality and consistency of all entries.


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Contact Information:Phone: 612-625-6203Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
136F ABLMS 1354 Eckles Ave St. Paul , MN 55108
PositionsProfessor – Veterinary Public HealthHospital Epidemiologist – Veterinary Medical Center
Co-Director Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center – (UMASH)http://umash.umn.edu/
Co-Director Minnesota Center of Excellence in Influenza Research (MCEIRS) - Human-Animal Interface Studieshttp://www.mceirs.umn.edu/mceirs/index.html DegreesB.S. California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, (1985)D.V.M. University of Minnesota, (1989)M.S. University of Minnesota, (1995)
Board CertificationDiplomate American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine
Research Interests
Working at the Interface of Human and Animal Health
Instructional Areas
DVM Professional CoursesVeterinary Public Health (CVM 6030) – Course for 3rd year veterinary students to discuss and describe the epidemiology of zoonotic diseases (e.g. animal bites, rabies, anthrax, Salmonella, E. coli O157, blastomycosis)
Veterinary Public Health Rotation – Course for 4th year veterinary students providing case examples, field visits, and discussion of veterinary public health issues (e.g. food safety, zoonotic diseases, environmental health, risk communication).
Graduate CoursesDiseases Common to Humans and Animals (VMED 8090) – Graduate level course involving the description, life cycle, modes of transmission, and prevention methods for zoonotic diseases of importance for human health
Public Health Institute CoursesWorld Food Problems (PubH 7200-106) This interdisciplinary course provides an overview of world food problems, including the social, political and economic reasons for malnutrition and food accessibility among developing countries.
Epidemiology of Foodborne Pathogens (PubH 7200-101) This course provides an overview of foodborne pathogens in the United States. Students will become familiar with the natural history and epidemiology of common foodborne pathogens. This will include clinical presentations, reservoirs, modes of transmission, specific food vehicles, and measures to prevent or reduce infection.
Use of Epi Info in Epidemiologic Investigations (PubH 7200-102) Course provides an introduction to the use of Epi Info software for epidemiologic investigations including data management and basic data analysis.
Understanding the Emergence of Zoonotic Diseases (PubH 7200-131) Course focuses on zoonotic diseases of public health importance, reviewing the genetic, biological, social, environmental, and ecological factors for the emergence or re-emergence of zoonotic diseases.
Select Recent Publications by Research Area
Antimicrobial Resistance
Staphylococcus and MRSA
Antibiotic Resistance
Food Safety
General Food Safety
Shiga-toxin Producing E. coli
Zoonotic and Emerging Diseases
Animal Contact Venues
Miscellaneous Zoonotic or Emerging Infectious Diseases
For a more complete listing, see: PubMed, a service provided by the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health and Google Scholar.
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posted 3/6/2013 by
Jeremy Duff
other articles
by Jeremy Duff
Despite what it looks like outside (at least here in Ohio), Spring is almost here. I keep telling myself that and this week I got a little help in believing it as MLB 13: The Show made its way to stores. A new MLB game means a new MLB season, which is a sure that warm weather on the horizon. I'll be honest though, it has been a while since I picked up a bat, both in real life and digitally. Despite being a bit rusty behind the bat (and glove) I had no problem seeing why this is widely heralded as the best baseball game on the market.
The Vita version of the game is very comparable to the console version available exclusively for the PS3. It has nearly all of the same modes and features and gives you nearly the exact same experience. There are some slight differences, which we will discuss here shortly, but for the most part it is the exact same game. Because of that fact, I am not going to spend too much time going into details on the various gameplay mechanics and specifics of the individual modes, you can find a good critique of those in Sean's
review of the console version
. Instead, let's focus on the differences provided in the portable version and some of the important features that shape the overall experience.
For starters, obviously, the visual quality of the game has been scaled back a bit for the Vita. That isn't to say that the game doesn't look good, because it looks great. The Vita version just loses some of the presentation options afforded by the high-powered console such as the TruBroadcast presentation mode(s). You don't have to worry about anyone looking over your shoulder and mistaking the game for you watching an MLB broadcast but the engulfing experience here is just as deep for the one playing the game. It is still chock full of incredible animations that really mimic the real life game. The physics engine that powers everything is almost as good as it gets, especially in terms of simulating the unpredictability of the ball when batting or fielding.
The Vita platform itself offer some unique gameplay possibilities that the development team takes full advantage of in both the front- and rear-touch capabilities. The game makes good use of both in a manner that compliments the gameplay rather than overtaking it. There aren't any shoe horned mechanics here, just alternate means of interacting with the game. While there is some basic implementation featured in navigating the menus, the most notable use of the panels are in the pitching and base running portions of the game. The touch screen makes it a lot easier to target your pitches as opposed to aiming with the overly-sensitive left analog nub. The same is seen in base running as stealing and leading off can be aided by simply running your finger(s) along the back. It feels really natural and quickly becomes second nature when playing.
Just as Sean mentioned in his review of the PS3 version, this year's edition of the game does a great job at alleviating the steep learning curve that has been associated with the series in the past. The new beginners mode is present in the portable experience as well. There are a ton of options available for pitching, batting, and fielding. The new mode eases you into the complicated options available by setting checkpoints for your progress. The better you do over time, the further they expand your controls. It starts off with simplified,press button controls and before it is all said and done, you will be batting with full analog controls and pitching as if you were in the major leagues. Veteran players can opt for heading straight to the full control scheme if they choose either the first time that they boot the game up or within the options menu at any given time. There are even some training routines designed to teach you the ins and outs of baseball itself, including thing such as reading pitches and fine tuning your pitch selection.
There is one glaring omission in this version of the game: Diamond Dynasty mode. Once again the portable version is missing out on the team management trading card game. I don't quite get why this mode keeps getting left out as it would make a great addition to the game. It is just a single mode though and considering the amount of other gameplay options available, it is a minor oversight.
Once again, the two versions of the game do offer some compatibility in the form of Cross Save features and a Cross Platform play in the Homerun Derby mode. Both of these work without a hitch. Saves can be transferred between the versions with a simply selecting the "save to the cloud" option, just like
Sly Cooper:Thieves in Time
. The Homerun Derby simply matches you up with the first games available online, regardless of platform. You never know which you will get paired up with and honestly, it doesn't matter.
It is easy to see why the Show has dominated the baseball genre for the past couple of years. With an expansive list of modes and features and realism unlike anything I have ever seen in a sports sim, the game is destined to impress even non-fans of America's pastime. Add in the fact of the portable option(s) offered by the Vita version and you have a no-brainer purchase for sports fans of all ages. While this version still comes across as the "little brother" to the PS3 version, the gap between the two seems to be closing up and it could be non-existent before all is said and done.
More On:
MLB 13: The Show
Sony Online Entertainment
* The product in this article was sent to us by the developer/company for review.
Phenomenal simulation and an amazing presentation make MLB 13: The Show one of the best sports games available on the market. Vita owners are still missing out on a couple of key features like the Diamond Dynasty mode but you still can't deny the insane amount of game packed into this little package.
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rococo revival
Chrysanthemum Tea Set
This tea set, comprised of a kettle on a stand, coffee pot, tea pot, sugar bowl, and waste bowl, was given to the museum by Mrs. Roswell A. Miller, formerly Margaret Carnegie. The initials "RMA" are engraved on the pieces, signifying the owner of the elaborately decorated set. Margaret and Roswell were married on April 23, 1919, at her father's, Andrew Carnegie's, mansion on 91st Street and Fifth Avenue—now the site of the Cooper-Hewitt Museum.
Tea set, tiffany silver, rococo revival, charles t. grosjean, japanesque


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The 6 Best Haircuts for Square Faces
Julie Giusti, Allure magazine
Looking for a haircut to flatter a squareish face shape? Take a cue from these awesomely angular celebrities.
See more from Allure:
The 6 Most Flattering Haircuts for Round Faces
The 12 Best Eye Creams
32 Hair Ideas for 2012